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LOS ANGELES -- The Miami Marlins never swept a four-game series from the Los Angeles Dodgers before Thursday. They hadn't even won four consecutive games against the Dodgers since the 1997 -- and then it was spread from April to August. However, there was no celebrating that accomplishment in the visitors' clubhouse at Dodger Stadium following their 5-3 victory over the Dodgers.
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Immediately following the game, it was announced that Marlins leadoff man and second baseman Dee Gordon was suspended 80 games after testing positive for two performance-enhancing substances banned by Major League Baseball.
"Obviously, two very different ends of the spectrum for us," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "You would expect our guys to be in there all excited, and then we get this news.
"But from there, we'll support Dee. These guys love Dee, and I feel like he's one of my kids I've known him so long. We're going to love him, and then we're going to move forward. Definitely shocked and surprised."
Gordon said in a statement Friday morning that he did not knowingly take PEDs but would not appeal the suspension.
"Though I did not do so knowingly, I have been informed that test results showed I ingested something that contained prohibited substances. The hardest part about this is feeling that I have let down my teammates, the organization and the fans," Gordon said in the statement released by the MLB Players Association. "I have been careful to avoid products that could contain something banned by MLB and the 20-plus tests that I have taken and passed throughout my career prove this. I made a mistake and I accept the consequences."
Gordon, 28, is in his sixth season in the majors. His first four seasons came under Mattingly with the Dodgers. After being traded to the Marlins in December 2014, Gordon went on to lead the National League in batting (.333) and stolen bases (58) in 2015 while also winning a Gold Glove award.
That earned him a five-year, $50 million contract extension last winter. He will not receive pay during his suspension.
Samson said the Marlins were alerted on Thursday.
It is unclear when the Marlins learned that Gordon would be suspended, though his positive test came weeks ago and was appealed by Gordon. He played in the win over the Dodgers on Thursday, going 1-for-4 with the game-tying RBI single in the seventh inning.
"Dee Gordon is a very important part of our team, and we all love him and support him," Marlins team president David Samson said Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. "That said, I do not like or condone what he did. He is an important member of this organization and will be for many years to come.
"It is a huge, huge disappointment to the kids, to our fans, to his teammates and to everyone in our organization who works hard every single day to put a product on the field and off the field that all Miamians can be proud of."
